Loom reed



Oct. 22, 1963 THOMPSON 3,107,699

LOOM REED Filed Sept. 28, 1961 IN VEN TOR Glee B. Thompson 5 BY WWI;

ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,107,699 LOSM REED Glee B. Thompson, Atlanta, Ga, assignor to Pioneer Heddie and Reed Company, Inc, Atlanta, Ga, a corporation of Georgia Filed. Sept. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 141,451 Claims. (Cl. 139-192.)

This invention relates to looms and is more particularly concerned with a loom reed having an improved reed cap construction.

In the past, removable reeds have been extensively used, the reed being carried in opposed grooves in the lay and lay cap. Normal-1y, substantially the entire clamping force on the reed is applied by the lay and lay cap to the upper arcuate surfaces of the ribs or cross bars. A very real problem, however, is that through the application of excessive force at the corner portions of the lay cap, the lay cap will be urged downwardly sufficiently to bow the dent wires, thereby rendering the dent wires ineifective in functioning properly to beat the filling yarns. into the warp yarns in forming fabric.

Eifonts have been made to overcome the problem described above, as evidenced by US. Patents Nos. 2,383,- 140 and 2,870,796. In one form of prior art devices, cup-like metal ferrules or split retainer end caps which fit over the associated ends of the split cross bars are employed in combination with wide slotted heading bars which take up a considerable amount of weaving space otherwise devoted to dent wires. In other forms of the prior art devices, essentially the same type of end caps or ferrules are employed in combination with thick heading bars having milled out shoulders against which the end caps rest. In the latter arrangement, the resulting reed is asymmetrical, the heading bars being, of necessity, thicker than the dent wires so that the shuttle could only move past one side of the reed during loom operation or, in other words, the reed cannot be turned over so that the outer face of the reed could be engaged by the shuttle without removing the heating bars because the edges of heading bars project outwardly relative to the common faces of the dent wires.

To obviate disadvantage described below, I have devised a reed wherein substantially the entire normal clam-ping force of the lay cap is applied from the cross bars to the end caps and thence to the heading bars of the reed. Excessive forces are applied directly to the bearing plates of the end caps, thus substantially eliminating any likelihood of damage to the dent wires of the reed. Briefly, the reed of the present invention includes symmetrical rectangular frame having upper and lower opposed pairs of cross bars or ribs which carry the evenly spaced dent wires therebetween. The ends of the ribs are spaced apart by relatively heavy heading bars which pass above and below the ribs to provide bearing ends for receiving the clamping force between the lay and 'lay cap. At each cornet of the frame is a reed or end cap, the cap being secured to the ends of the ribs of the reed to cover the protruding ends of the heading bars so as to present a wide bearing area over which the clamping force is applied, this force being concentrated by the caps on the opposed ends of the heading bars.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a loom reed in which substantially the entire com pressive force applied to the reed by the lay and lay cap is concentrated at the reed caps and the heading bars, thereby minimizing the danger of bending the dent wires through the application of excessive force by the lay cap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reed which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and eflicient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Patented 0st. 22, 1%63 2 reed which will more evenly distribute the clamping load of the lay cap to those parts which will more readily carry the load.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reed in which the dent wires are maintained more evenly in their parallel position so as to distribute more evenly the beating force applied by the lay to the fabric being produced on the loom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reed which will achieve the above objects without sacri ficing weaving space and without making reed unsymmetrical so that it cannot be reversed in the loom as is the usual custom.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the lay and lay cap of a conventional loom receiving a loom reed, constructed in accordance with the present invention therein.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of one corner of the need of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the reed cap of the reed of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an :end view of the reed cap shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the reed cap shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the reed cap shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the reed of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral it) denotes generally the lay of a conventional loom, the construction and operation of a loom being so well understood that additional details thereof are not required. The upper surface of the lay 10 is provided with the customary upwardly opening reed receiving groove 11 which cooperates with a similar or complementary, downwardly opening reed receiving groove 12 in the lay cap 13. A reed is received in the grooves 11 and 12 of the lay 10 and lay cap 13, the lay cap 13- bcing clamped in place to retain the reed place.

According to the present invention, the reed, denoted generally by numeral 20, includes a symmetrical rectangular frame having a pair of vertically disposed, spaced parallel heading bars, such as bar 21. Each heading bar 21 is a flat, rectangular metal bar which is substantially wider than it is thick. The upper and lower ends, such as end 22., of each heading bar 21 is relatively flat and is essentially normal to the axis of the bar 21 for purposes to be described hereinafter. The end portions of the heading bars, such as bar 2 1, are held firmly in place by horizontally disposed upper and lower cross bars or ribs 18 and 19, seen in 'FIG. 1. The ends of each cross bar or rib 18 and 19 are provided with a cap 35 which will be described in detail later.

Disposed within the frame in equally spaced, parallel relationship between the heading bars, such as bar 21, are the dent wires 23, each dent wire being approximately the same Width as the thickness of heading bar 21 but substantially thinner than the width of heading bar 21. Thus, the sides of reed 20 present uniform flat surfaces.

As seen in FIG. 1, the end portions of dent wires 23 are received in the upper and lower cross bars or ribs cap retaining nails 4-4, 44', respectively.

enemas 18 and 19 in similar fashion. The upper end portions of the dent wires 23 and the upper end portions of the bars, such as bar 21 for example, are received between the flat inner surfaces of a pair of semi-circular, Wooden strips 24, 24' forming the upper rib bar 13, the dent Wires 23 being spaced apart by adjacent turns of a hclically wound band 2'5 passing around the strips 24, 2d. The band 25 terminates at the inner edge of the heading bars, such as bar 21, while the strips 24, 24' terminate in flat ends, essentially parallel to the outer edges of the heading bars, such as bar 21. In the present embodiment, the band 25 is impregnated with pitch or some other adhesive and therefore bonds the strips 24, 24 in place.

The convex outer surfaces of the strips 24, 24' are provided with outwardly opening, axially extending, central grooves 25, 26 throughout their lengths, which receive the rectangular backwires 27, 27, the backwires 27, 27 passing beneath the helically wound band 25.

It will be observed in FIG. 2 that the upper end portion 23 of each dent wire 23 extends above or outwardly of the strips 24, 24- and is bent at an obtuse angle, adjacent the upper surface of strips 24, 24' to prevent upward or downward movement of the dent wires 23. Since the upper end 22 of the heading bar 21 terminates slightly above, i.e. about one-eighth inch above the plane of the upper ends of the dent wires 23- and above the upper surface of the strips 24, 24', normally, no force is applied to the ends of dent wires 23. In the present embodiments, a plastic, cloth or paper tape cover 3% extends around the strips 24, 24 and over the end portions 28 of the dent wires 23, the cover 33' having an adhesive layer 31 by which it is adhered to the band 25. The cover 36 terminates adjacent the inner edge of bar 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 7, a stamped, metal reed or end cap or ferrule 35, is received on each end of the strips 24, 24, each such cap 35 including a flat circular or disc-shaped face plate 36. Integrally formed with plate 36 is a peripheral cap flange which extends inwardly from the edge of plate 36, the flange having a pair of opposed arcuate or semi-circular flange members 37, 37' of a width slightly greater than the width of heading bar 21. The diameter of plate 36 and its flange members 37, 37' is substantially equal to the distance between the outer surfaces of backwires 27, 27', however, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, members 37, 37' diverge slightly from plate 36 so that when cap 35 is fitted on the corner of the reed frame, the portions 37, 37 are readily received over backwires 27, 27'.

As best seen in FIGS. and 6, the lower edges of flange portions 37, 37' are spaced apart sufficiently to provide a bar receiving recess or open ended slot 38 of a width suflicient to permit the cap 35 to be received on strips 24, 24' as the edges, defining recess 38, pass on opposite sides of the bar 21.

Diametrically opposite recess 38 is an outwardly spaced bearing plate 39 which is connected to flange portions 37, 37' by opposed spaced side members 4% 4%, respectively, the side members 40, 40' and bearing plate 39 defining a second recess 41 for receiving and enclosing the upper end of heading bar 21. A protrusion 42 which is coplanar with plate 36 closes the space between the ends of side members 49, 49', and between the end of bearing plate 39 and the upper edge of face plate 3 6.

The side members 40, 4G and plate 39 are so dimenasioned that when caps 35 are installed, as seen in FIG. .1, the outer portion of the inner surface of bearing plate .39 is in contact with the upper outer corner of bar 21 while the bearing plate 3% extends over and diverges :slightly from the end 22 of bar 21.

The face plate 36, as seen in FIG. 5, is provided with :a pair of holes 43, 43' which receive therethrough the When cap 35 is installed, it is simply slid over the end of strips 24, 24 and the nails 44, 44 are passed through the holes 43, 43' and into ,the end .of the strips 24, 24, respectively. As

will be seen in FIG. 2, the bearing plate 39 extends over the entire end 22 and is outwardly of, i.e., above the ends of dent wires 23. Also, the diameter of flange members 37, 37 is larger than the diameter of the strips 24, 24', these elements being essentially concentric. Therefore, the substantially entire normal clamping force applied on the reed by the lay 10 and lay cap 13 is received on the upper and lower surfaces of the cross bars 18 and 19, respectively, and transmitted to the caps 35 at each corner of the reed frame. Any excessive clamping force however will act directly on the bearing plate 39 urging it inwardly toward its associated end, such as end 22 of bar 21 whereby, the outer portion of the inner surface of plate 39 contacts and tends to act as a lever which may pivot about a fulcrum formed by the outer corner of the bar 21. This pivoting action by the bearing plate 39 will tend to pivot face plate 36 outwardly; however, since flanges 37, 37' also contact the lay 10 and lay cap 13 and the face plate 36 is held flat against the ends of strips 24, 24-, the face plate 36 will be deformed slightly and/ or the nails 44, 44' will be retracted as the face plate 36 moves outwardly. Hence, the face plate 36 and/or the nails 44-, 44 yieldably resist anylpivotal action of bearing plate 39.

With even more compressive force, the bearing plate 39 may be urged flat against the end 22 and the clamping force is therefore transmitted directly to the heading bar In either event, it will be seen that since the caps 35 support the ends of the cross bars 18 and 19 and in turn contact the ends. of the heading bars .21, while the dent wires 23 are less firmly held by the cross "bars 18 and 19, no appreciable collapsing force is exerted against the dent wires 23. Further, since ends 22 and bearing plate 39 are outwardly of the ends of the dent wires 23, no direct force is applied to the dent wires 23. Indeed, any rotational force on plate 39 is translated via plate 36 and nails 44, 44' into horizontal tension which may tend to straighten strips 24, 24'.

in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, it will be seen that the cap 135 is of different configuration than cap 35 of the previous embodiment; however, the heading bar 121, having end 122, dent wires 123 and cross bar 118 having strips 124, band 125 and cover are essentially the same as the heading bar 21, dent wires 23, cross bar 18, strip 24, band 25 and cover 30 of the previous embodiment.

In more detail, the cap includes a pair of opposed arcuate or semi-circular flange members, such as member 137 which, rather than flaring or diverging from the face plate 136 extend essentially perpendicular to face plate 136. As in the previous embodiment, the upper edges of the members, such as member 137, are integrally joined to the side members, such as. member 140. The side members, such as member 149, in turn, support the bearing plate 139. Of significance in the embodiment of FIG. 8 is the fact that the cap 135 is so constructed that bearing plate 139 at all times rests firmly on the end 122 of heading bar 121. Nails such as nail 144 retains the cap 135 in place on the end of the cross bar 18.

It will be understood, of course, that each reed has four such caps 135 at its four corners; hence, since the reed is symmetrical only one corner need be described.

When the device of FIG. 8 is retained in place by the lay and lay cap, the flange members, such as member 137, carry the end portions of the cross bar 118 and therefore any compressive force on the cross bar 118 will be transferred to the cap 135. Thence, the cap 135 transfers (the force to bearing plate 139 which transfers the force to end 122 of heading bar 121. Since end 122 is outwardly, i.e. above the ends of dent wires 123, no force will normally be exerted on these ends, even if excessive force is applied to the lay and lay cap.

It will also be observed that since my loom reed is essentially symmetrical, it may be used facing forwardly or facing rearwardly, or upright or rotated 180 about a horizontal axis. Further, no lost weaving space is involved and no excessively wide or thick heading bar is required.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom reed of the type adapted to be clamped between a lay and a lay cap and having upper and lower cross bars and a plurality of dent wires supported by said cross bars, the combination therewith of heading bars at opposite ends of said cross bars, said heading bar protruding above and below the upper and lower surfaces of said cross bars, and caps on the ends of said cross bars, said caps extending inwardly over the ends of said heading bars and providing bearing surfaces engaging said ends of said heading bars, said bearing surfaces terminating slightly inwardly of said heading bars and being outwardly of the ends of all dent wires so as to receive and transmit only to said heading bars the normal clamping force applied by said lay to said lay cap.

2. In a loom reed of the type adapted to be clamped between a lay and a lay cap and having a symmetrical frame with upper and lower cross bars and dent wires supported by their end portions through said cross bars, the ends of said dent wires extending above and below said cross bars, the combination therewith of caps on the ends of said cross bars, said frame including heading bars at opposite ends thereof protruding through the end portions of said cross bars and projecting outwardly therebeyond, said caps each including a face plate, and a bearing plate extending from said face plate inwardly over the associated end of its heading bar, said bearing plate terminating adjacent the inner edge of said heading bar and being outwardly of the ends of all dent wires so as to receive and transmit only to said heading bar the normal clamping force applied by said lay and said lay cap.

3. In a loom reed of the type adapted to be clamped between a lay and a lay cap and having a symmetrical frame with upper and lower cross bars and dent wires supported by their end portions through said cross bars, the ends of said dent wires extending above and below said cross bars, the combination therewith of caps on the ends of said cross bars, said frame including heading bars at opposite ends thereof protruding through the end portions of said cross bars and projecting outwardly therebeyond, the ends of said heading bars being essentially normal to the axis thereof, said caps each including a face plate, and a bearing plate inwardly extending from said face plate over the associated end of its heading bar, said bearing plate diverging from its associated end of said heading bar and terminating adjacent the inner edge of said heading bar, said bearing plate being outwardly of the ends of said dent wires for receiving substantially the entire clamping force of said lay and said lay cap and means for securing said face plate to the end of its associated cross bar.

4. In a loom reed of the type having a symmetrical frame with upper and lower cross bars and dent wires supported by their end portions through said cross bars, the ends of said dent wires extending above and below said cross bars, the combination therewith of caps over the ends of said cross bars, said frame including heading bars at opposite ends thereof protruding through the end portions of said cross bars and projecting outwardly therebeyond, the ends of said heading bars being essentially normal to the axis thereof, said caps each including a disc-shaped face plate, a pair of opposed arcuate flange members extending over opposite surfaces of its cross bars for supporting the same, a bearing plate extending from said face plate over the associated end of its heading bar, and side members connecting the edges of said flanges with the edges of said bearing plate, said bearing plate extending inwardly over the entire end of its associated heading bar and terminating adjacent the inner edge thereof for transmitting any compressive force exented on said cross bars to the ends of said heading bars.

5. A loom reed comprising upper and lower cross bars, evenly spaced dent wires supported by said cross bars, each of said cross bars including a pair of strips extending on opposite sides of the end portions of said dent wires, a band helically wound around the strips of each cross bar, each turn of said band providing spacing for adjacent dent wires, heading bars protruding between the strips of said cross bars at the end portions of said cross bars and extending outwardly therebeyond, the ends of said strips terminating in about the planes of the outer edges of said heading bars, the ends of said heading bars being essentially normal to the axis thereof, said strips being provided with grooves throughout their lengths, backwires received Within said grooves'and held in place by said band, caps over the ends of said cross bars, said caps each including a disc-shaped face plate flat against said ends of said strips, a pair of opposed arcuate flange members extending over opposite surfaces of the end portions of its associated cross bar and the ends of said backwires for supporting said cross bar, a bearing plate extending from said face plate over the entire end of its associated heading bar and terminating adjacent the inner edge thereof, side members connecting the edges of said flanges with the edges of said bearing plate, each bearing plate being outwardly of the ends of said dent wires, and fastening means passing through said face plate and into the ends of said strips inwardly of said backwires for securing said face plate to the end of its associated cross bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,988,977 Andrews Jan. 22, 1935 2,187,997 Bond et al. Jan. 23, 1940 2,383,140 McLane et al. Aug. 21, 1945 2,572,365 McFetters Oct. 23, 1951 2,870,796 Laugh1in Jan. 27, 1959 2,941,552 McLane June 21, 1960 

1. IN A LOOM REED OF THE TYPE ADAPTED TO BE CLAMPED BETWEEN A LAY AND A LAY CAP AND HAVING UPPER AND LOWER CROSS BARS AND A PLURALITY OF DENT WIRES SUPPORTED BY SAID CROSS BARS, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF HEADING BARS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CROSS BARS, SAID HEADING BAR PROTRUDING ABOVE AND BELOW THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID CROSS BARS, AND CAPS ON THE ENDS OF SAID CROSS BARS, SAID CAPS EXTENDING INWARDLY OVER THE ENDS OF SAID HEADING BARS PROVIDING BEARING SURFACES ENGAGING SAID ENDS OF SAID HEADING BARS, SAID BEARING SURFACES TERMINATING SLIGHTLY INWARDLY OF SAID HEADING BARS AND BEING OUTWARDLY OF THE ENDS OF ALL DENT WIRES SO AS TO RECEIVE AND TRANSMIT ONLY TO SAID HEADING BARS THE NORMAL CLAMPING FORCE APPLIED BY SAID LAY TO SAID LAY CAP. 